Korea, Russia to jointly probe Naro rocket`s failed launch

Korea and Russia have formed a joint team of civilian experts from both countries to find the cause of the failed launch of Naro, or Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, last year, according to the Korean Education, Science and Technology Ministry.

The Naro’s 2nd Launch Investigation Committee, Korea’s own investigative team, had initially concluded that the Korean research team that developed the second-stage rocket was to blame for the failure.

Yang Seong-gwang, in charge of the strategic technology development at the Science Ministry, told reporters Thursday, “Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center have held four joint investigative committee meetings over the past year, but reaching a conclusion was difficult because the technological pride of both countries was at stake.”

“So the Science Ministry and the Russian Federal Space Agency have agreed to set up a joint probe team to identify the cause of the failure in an objective manner.”

The joint committee was established by the Khrunichev center, the manufacturer of the Naro’s first-stage rocket and Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the producer of the second-stage rocket. Little progress has been made, however, with each side sticking to its own opinions.

The new joint probe team will exclude figures from both the Russian and Korean institutes and invite 30 civilian experts, 15 from each country. Most members of the Naro 2nd Launch Investigation Committee are expected to join the new team.

Moscow appointed the vice president of a non-governmental organization that certifies the quality of launchers to lead the Russian side of the joint team. Korea, however, has yet to choose its leader.

The joint investigative team will hold its first meeting late next month to begin work.